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Roberto’s defense rests, closing arguments on Monday
Prosecution calls a total of 10 witnesses, defense calls 9
The defense rested its case yesterday morning after calling their ninth witness to the stand in the ongoing jury trial of Raymond B. Roberto in federal court.
Roberto’s counsel announced that the defense rests after the testimony of police detective Melissa Bauleong.
Bauleung was one of the police detectives who interviewed the alleged victims. She was the one who reportedly accompanied Federal Bureau of Investigation special agents to the Parkville Motel in Gualo Rai during the FBI’s investigation.
Defense counsels David J. Lujan and Joaquin Torres did not ask for a judgment of acquittal.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona set the closing arguments for Monday at 8:30am after the parties asked for more time to prepare.
Manglona ordered an early recess for the jurors.
When Saipan Tribune left the courtroom yesterday morning, Manglona and the parties were discussing proposed final jury instructions.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Naughton joined Assistant U.S. Attorney Rami S. Badawy and U.S. Attorney for the Districts of Guam and NMI Alicia A.G. Limtiaco in the jury instructions conference that lasted until noon.
The prosecution rested on Monday after calling in 10 witnesses, including the three alleged underage victims.
The trial began on Aug. 8. Jury selection lasted seven days—said to be the longest so far in the CNMI.
Roberto, 41, is a former acting director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife. He is charged with three counts of enticing three minors to engage in prostitution and one count of witness tampering.
